Heart&Stroke Health Check^TM Program

As the weather changes coats and the warm summer sun takes on a steely winter hue, nothing seems quite as inviting as a hot, comforting drink. 
Unfortunately, those rich drinks often come with a dose of sugar and calories that your body doesn’t need. 
For instance, take a medium-sized cup of specialty mocha.  With its whipped topping and chocolate curls, this flavoured drink will set you back 400 calories – the same amount as a meal. Tea , on the other hand, has a zero count.
Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to warm yourself up without loading up on sugar and unnecessary calories.

Here are some tips to keep you warm and healthy this November:

• Choose water as often as possible. Water helps move nutrients and waste through the body, regulate body temperature and blood pressure, and protect and cushion joints and organs.
• Instead of fatty specialty coffee beverages, choose flavoured tea to warm you up.
• When ordering a specialty coffee beverage, choose non-fat milk or soy beverage, instead of whole milk.
• Carry a couple of your favourite tea bags with you.  This way, you can stop by any coffee shop and simply ask for hot water to make a delicious warm beverage.
• When ordering a specialty coffee drink, ask for less sweetener and syrup, as well as non-fat milk or soy beverage to be used instead of whole milk.
• If you prefer creamier beverages, try tea latte with non-fat milk or soy beverage.
• Avoid whipped topping on specialty beverages—it significantly increases the fat and caloric content of the beverage.
• When ordering a complementing hot beverage at a restaurant, opt out for a cup of hot water with a lemon wedge or steamed non fat milk.  It will warm you up, without filling you up with sugar.

For more healthy eating information visit healthcheck.org and follow us on Twitter @HSFHealthCheck

For more healthy tips and recipes, visit healthcheck.org, or reach into your pocket and download Health Check’s Recipe Helper app.  The free app – available in English or French − can be downloaded at the Apple, Android, and BlackBerry app stores or at www.heartandstroke.ca/mobileapps.